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The longest hitless streak to begin a season by a non-pitcher in the divisional era that I can find is Richie Scheinblum with 0-38 PAs in 1969. Mike Moustakas is at 21, leading the league. Travis D'Arnaud is at 17 PAs, Marc Krauss is at 15. They are both rookies, Moustakas is in his fourth season.

McGwire started the 2001 season with a Moustakasesque 1 for 20 with one homer.

Ryne Sandberg started out 1982 (and his Cub career) 1 for 32. Add in his 1 for 6 cup of coffee the year before, and he started his career 2 (both singles) for 38 with 1 walk. Not sure if any HOFer started out worse.

How do minor league offensive levels track the level of offense in MLB? I am asking for the sake of comparing two players' performances in the same league but in 2006 and 2013. Are league averages in minor leagues a poor measure because of fluctuating talent levels?

He also tied Mike Schmidt for fifth in games at third. He'll catch Boggs with three more

Awesome. Thanks! I will keep an eye on that Boggs mark.

As many games at 3B as Mike Schmidt is an extremely impressive total. Schmidt played college ball and didn't hang on till extreme old age, but he had a very long career almost all at 3B (with a brief detour at 1B), obviously, and strolling past that career length while still a star is amazing.

Game of April 7, 1984 - the best game in the career of one of the starting pitchers (but only if you apply a flashing red REGULAR SEASON ONLY caveat), and a discussion of a subjective adjustment to an objective measurement of a subjective quality.

Beltre's DHing today, but I like that his march up the third-base games played list has him tied with MIKE SCHMIDT and a few days from passing WADE BOGGS and about three months away from... gary gaetti.

Ryne Sandberg started out 1982 (and his Cub career) 1 for 32. Add in his 1 for 6 cup of coffee the year before, and he started his career 2 (both singles) for 38 with 1 walk. Not sure if any HOFer started out worse.

#29, indeed. Gaetti was a rare case of a specialist 3B who wasn't awe-inspiring at any aspect of the game. Ron Cey was similar if not as long-careered. Often the greater hitters go to 1B or DH and the really great gloves don't stay as hitters. Gaetti struck a balance.

As many games at 3B as Mike Schmidt is an extremely impressive total. Schmidt played college ball and didn't hang on till extreme old age, but he had a very long career almost all at 3B (with a brief detour at 1B), obviously, and strolling past that career length while still a star is amazing.

I wouldn't have guessed he'd gotten to Schmidt already but to put your point in perspective ... Schmidt had 11 games at 3B through his age 22 season; Beltre had 498. For those 3.5 seasons, Beltre put up a perfectly solid 8 WAR.

Schmidt added 462 games from age 35 on; if Beltre can match that, he'll end up with 2667. 2667 would be an absurd total but still short of Brooks at 2870 which looks like the record for any position (Mays 2829 and Vizquel 2709).